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0The paper presents a spatiotemporal transcriptomic atlas of the developing human meninges during early-to-mid gestation. By utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial imaging, the researchers identify that the three meningeal layers develop asynchronously, with the pia mater forming first. The study highlights how pial fibroblasts use CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling to recruit and organize meningeal macrophages within the leptomeningeal zone. Furthermore, a specific population of Trem2+ macrophages is shown to regulate the development and continuity of Cajal-Retzius cells in the cerebral cortex. This research establishes a critical framework for understanding neuro-immune interactions and provides a theoretical basis for treating meningeal-related diseases. The findings also reveal that all three layers eventually acquire barrier-associated signatures and unique metabolic profiles necessary for central nervous system homeostasis.
References:
Li Y, Li Z, She Y, et al. Decoding the spatiotemporal development of human meninges[J]. Cell, 2026.
